How to become a Seafood Processor
Seafood processors scale, clean, fillet, cut, shell, grade and pack seafood for sale or supply using knives, scalers and power equipment.
Personal requirements for a Seafood Processor
- Enjoy practical and manual activities
- Free from skin diseases or chest complaints
- Good hand-eye coordination
- Able to do quick and accurate work with hands
- Able to work as part of a team
- Safety-conscious.
Duties & Tasks of a Seafood Processor
Seafood processors may perform the following tasks:
- Inspect seafood on conveyors and sort for size and quality
- Fillet and trim fish
- Scrape skin and pick blood and other waste from pre-cooked seafood
- Grade and pack fish for live markets
- Shuck and process shellfish
- Pack seafood for transport
- Maintain temperature of seafood using a range of refrigeration devices
- Operate machines that fillet, portion, slice, peel, skin, weigh or label seafood
- Clean and sanitise equipment and work areas
- Adhere to requirements for food handling and safety practices.
Working conditions for a Seafood Processor
Seafood processors work in a cool and wet environment and may be required to stand for most of the day. Protective clothing, including gloves, must be worn. Seafood processors must adhere to strict hygiene conditions. They are often required to start early in the morning to prepare seafood for the local markets or for export to other countries.
